None of the three candidate nations vying for a slot, South Africa, Cyprus or Poland has made the grade. South Africa withdrew from the race of its own accord while the event in Cyprus was hit by protests that included two stages being disrupted and the FIA observer being taken 'hostage'. However, no official reason has been given as to why Cyprus or Poland aren't on the calendar.

The new calendar also reveals the events that will count towards both the Production Car World Rally Championship and the Junior Rally Championship.

The Production series will visit Sweden, Mexico and Argentina at the start of the year before a break leading into the Acropolis Rally in the summer. Rally New Zealand and the final two events of the year in Japan and Wales round out the seven round schedule.

The Junior season will start in April in Jordan before returning to Europe in Italy. Turkey, Finland, Germany and Spain complete the calendar.

2008 FIA World Rally Championship calendar:

Jan 25-27 Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo
Feb 8-10 Uddeholm Swedish Rally P
Feb 28-March 3 Rally Mexico P
March 28-30 Rally Argentina P
April 25-27 Jordan Rally WRC J
May 16-18 Rallye d'Italia-Sardegna J
May 30-June 1 BP Ultimate Acropolis Rally P
June 13-15 Rally of Turkey J
Aug 1-Aug 3 Neste Oil Rally Finland J
Aug 15-17 ADAC Rallye Deutschland J
Aug 29-31 Rally of New Zealand P
Oct 3-5 Rallye de Espana J
Oct 10-12 Rallye de France Tour de Corse
Oct 24-26 Rally Japan P
Nov 28-30 Wales Rally GB P

P – denotes round of Production Car World Rally Championship
J- denotes round of Junior Rally Championship